Most Americans might be used to hotels missing a 13th floor, but why do some casinos not have 40th floors?
Las Vegas-based Miracle Flights was founded in 1985 on the simple, straightforward belief that a healthy life is the birthright of every child – regardless of income, ailment or distance to medical care. What started as a small operation flying local children from Southern Nevada is today the nation’s leading medical flight charity – and the largest national charity headquartered in Southern Nevada.
Over the last 35 years, Miracle Flights has provided more than 132,000 free flights to help families from every corner of the country reach life-changing medical care that’s only available far from home. For many, that plane ticket represents more than a flight. It represents hope.
According to Miracle Flights CEO Mark E. Brown, a plane ticket is often the missing piece parents need to get their child the valuable medical treatment he or she requires.
“When parents come to Miracle Flights, they know where their child needs to go, but the problem is they can’t afford to get to the treatment facility. Their insurance may only cover the cost of the medical care itself,” said Brown. “That’s where Miracle Flights comes in. We provide commercial flights at no cost to families, anywhere they need to go in United States for proper medical treatment and as many times as necessary.”
Miracle Flights typically books more than 600 flights every month, Brown said, citing 11-year-old Amanda from Las Vegas as an example of who Miracle Flights assists. One of only 32 people in the world with her form of epilepsy, Amanda, along with her parents, took her 21st Miracle Flight in July.
“Flights like Amanda’s are only possible thanks to the continued support of individual and community partners who so generously lend their resources to help further Miracle Flights’ mission,” said Brown. Those partners include local businesses and individuals as well as national brands Chik-Fil-A, Southwest Airlines, UFC and Lovepop.
Whether they’re local or national, Brown says donors and partners are at the root of the organization’s success. “They give hope to our families and futures to our children.”
As Miracle Flights continues to build its profile nationally, Brown says his team has redoubled its efforts in support of the Las Vegas community. “This organization was born, raised and nurtured right here in Las Vegas,” he said. “We’re proud of how we’ve grown with this city, and we want to make sure that we contribute to the community that has supported us so steadfastly.”
To that end, the organization hosts a number of education and outreach events every year. In 2017 Miracle Flights made arrangements to provide free medical flights for injured victims and families impacted by the Route 91 shooting. They recently introduced a mascot, Miles, to help build awareness and promote inclusivity with younger audiences. And in 2018, the organization launched its biggest public outreach event to date, Carnival in the Clouds.
Brown said the demand for Miracle Flights increases every year. “More than 7,000 rare diseases affect 15 million children here in the U.S. alone,” he said. “And access to specialized care remains limited to just a few centers in the country.”
While the majority of Miracle Flights’ patients are children, Brown noted that the organization has expanded its services in recent years to assist veterans and other adults in need of specialized, distant care.
As the organization evolves, CEO Brown says community involvement will be more important than ever. If you’re interested in helping provide “The Cure for Distance” as a volunteer, partner or sponsor, please visit miracleflights.org.
Miracle Flights at a Glance
This article was presented and sponsored by Miracle Flights. For more information, visit their website here or call 800-359-1711.
Most Americans might be used to hotels missing a 13th floor, but why do some casinos not have 40th floors?
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